Tag: fishing

Tuna Harbor Dockside Market’s grand opening!

Fresh fish on display await customers at dockside market.
Fresh fish on display await customers at new dockside market.

The new Tuna Harbor Dockside Market had its grand opening on the Embarcadero this morning! The fresh seafood market, which will be open Saturdays from 8 to 1 on the pier adjacent to Tuna Harbor (between Seaport Village and the USS Midway Museum), is San Diego’s attempt to recreate Seattle’s famous Pike Place Fish Market and San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf. It appeared to be a modest but very popular beginning!

There were tables and tanks of fresh fish and invertebrates caught locally by fishermen from the large fleet of boats docked nearby. The ocean off San Diego offers a bounty of healthy and sustainable food that can now be more affordably purchased by the public, direct from the source.

The catch this morning included stone crab, box crab, sea urchins, top snail, kellet’s whelks, black cod, ling cod, rock fish, sand dabs, bluefin, yellowfin, yellowtail, sheepshead and even octopus!

According to what I read on the internet, Tuna Harbor Dockside Market is the production of the San Diego Fishermen’s Working Group, which was established in 2010 to promote commercial fishing in San Diego. With the assistance of the Port of San Diego, these hard-working fishermen are adding to the vitality of an already extremely active waterfront!

A huge line of customers was still growing well before the market’s morning opening. Looks to me like they’ll need more fish!

County Supervisor Greg Cox checks out a tank full of crabs.
County Supervisor Greg Cox checks out a tank full of crabs.
Lots of fresh fish sold to the public on San Diego's Embarcadero.
Lots of fresh fish sold to the public on San Diego’s Embarcadero.
Fisherman takes fresh catch from ice in cooler.
Fisherman removes fresh catch from ice in cooler.
Television reporters and San Diegans await opening of dockside market!
Television reporters and San Diegans await opening of dockside market!

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Walking out on Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach.

Archway of Crystal Pier Hotel and Cottages at end of Garnet Avenue.
Archway of Crystal Pier Hotel and Cottages at end of Garnet Avenue.

Many years ago (decades actually), I used to occasionally go fishing from Crystal Pier. It’s located in Pacific Beach, at the west end of Garnet Avenue, which I strolled along in my last blog post.

While it isn’t a very long pier, it’s definitely one hundred percent cool. One reason is because fishing from Crystal Pier is both free and amazingly productive. While I never seemed to catch anything but mackerel, I remember seeing nice catches of bonito, rock fish, sea bass, barracuda, guitar fish, sharks and even halibut! (One nice thing about pier fishing in San Diego is you legally don’t need a fishing license.)

Why else is this pier super cool? Because there are small cottages built right on it! The historic Crystal Pier Hotel and Cottages was built in 1930. Once known as Pickering’s Pleasure Pier, for a short time the privately owned pier featured a Crystal Ballroom and carnival midway out at its end!

If I were a tourist visiting San Diego, I’d absolutely want to stay here. At night the pier is closed to the public, and you can lie in bed listening to the ocean waves below. During the day you have easy access to the famous Pacific Beach boardwalk, which I’ll show you in my next blog post!

One of the small, quaint cottages actually on the pier!
One of the small, quaint cottages actually on the pier!
Looking along the short pier past fishermen and visitors.
Looking along the short pier past fishermen and visitors.
Turning back eastward toward the cottages.
Turning back eastward toward the cottages.
Surfers below Crystal Pier floating and waiting on their surfboards.
Surfers below Crystal Pier floating and waiting on their surfboards.
This surfer caught a good ride on a nice wave.
This surfer caught a good ride on a nice wave.
This pic shows fishing, surfing and the beach.
This pic shows fishing, surfing and the beach.
Leaving Crystal Pier, to walk down the Pacific Beach boardwalk.
Leaving Crystal Pier, to walk down the Pacific Beach boardwalk.

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San Diego’s annual Sicilian Festival in Little Italy.

Sicilian Festival dignitaries parade flags down India Street.
Sicilian Festival dignitaries parade flags down India Street.

I took an enjoyable walk today. San Diego’s heat wave has ended and this weekend was perfect. The best part of my walk was just wandering randomly through Little Italy’s annual Sicilian Festival. India Street was streaming with crowds enjoying Italian food, romantic music, art, history and several blocks jammed with colorful sights. I devoured some yummy pizza and spoke with a few interesting people.

Here are a few cool pics!

Tuscany Italian tablecloths line a vendor's tent.
Tuscany Italian tablecloths line a vendor’s tent.
Italian food up and down India Street smelled great!
Italian and other food up and down India Street smelled great!
Wagon painted with colorful scenes of Medieval chivalry.
Wagon painted with colorful scenes of Medieval chivalry.
Sharing his Sicilian legacy from past generations.
Sharing his Sicilian legacy from past generations.

One block was devoted to Sicilian culture and the history of San Diego’s Little Italy. Several interesting people were sharing their own stories.

Local novelist Corey Lynn Fayman sold some books!
Local novelist Corey Lynn Fayman sold some books!

Local author Corey Lynn Fayman sold me his novel Border Field Blues. It’s a detective story set at the Mexican border. I’ve read a few pages and so far it’s great!

Jim Bregante shares his childhood experience of the waterfront.
Jim Bregante shares his childhood memories of the waterfront.

I caught the last few minutes of Jim Bregante’s historical presentation, called San Diego’s Waterfront through the Eyes of a Child. He was remembering the colorful nicknames of the local Italians that he knew when he was young. I wish I’d heard his entire talk! What a great treasure trove of historical memories. Other people in other places should follow his example!

What Italian fishermen used to catch off San Diego.
What Italian fishermen used to catch off San Diego.
Many old photos of tuna fishermen from Little Italy.
Many old photos of tuna fishermen from Little Italy.
Crushing grapes was part of the Sicilian Festival!
Crushing grapes was part of the Sicilian Festival!
Various musicians played the accordion.
Various musicians played the accordion.
Banner shows Italian Padres player Chris Denorfia.
Banner shows Padres player Chris Denorfia.
Some kids had an awesome bungee experience!
Some kids had an awesome bungee experience!
The frantic pasta eating contest is underway.
The frantic pasta eating contest is underway.
The sauce-faced winner raises his arms in triumph!
The sauce-faced winner raises his arms in triumph!

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Some cool pics of the Imperial Beach pier.

Abstract surfboards welcome people to Imperial Beach pier.
Abstract surfboards welcome people to Imperial Beach pier. This public art is titled Surfhenge, by local artist Malcolm Jones.

Imperial Beach lies south of downtown San Diego, at the extreme southwest corner of the continental United States. The Imperial Beach pier is just a few miles from Mexico. This beach community is a perfect example of laid-back southern California, mostly just locals kicking back, a smattering of tourists, and a good vibe all around. The days are sunny and people are friendly.

Come stroll with me toward the pier and let’s see what’s going on!

Colorful surfboard arches frame a pier visitor.
Colorful acrylic surfboard arches frame a pier visitor. Surfhenge was dedicated in 1999.
Lifeguard tower behind palm trees and flags.
Lifeguard tower behind palm trees and flags.
Benches near the pier are made of surfboards!
Benches near the pier are made of many different style surfboards, representing different eras of the sport.
Imperial Beach pier beckons from the sand.
Imperial Beach pier beckons from the sand.
A few people on the beach on a spring weekday morning.
A few people on the beach on a spring weekday morning.
Looking down the length of the Imperial Beach pier.
Looking down the length of the Imperial Beach pier.
Fisherman cuts bait at one of the public sinks.
Fisherman cuts bait at one of the public sinks.
Gazing down at the blue Pacific on a nice day.
Gazing down at the blue Pacific on a nice day.
Approaching the Tin Fish restaurant at the end of the pier.
Approaching the Tin Fish restaurant at the end of the pier.
Window of Tin Fish restaurant at end of Imperial Beach pier.
Window of Tin Fish restaurant at end of Imperial Beach pier.
Pier pilings rise from an emerald ocean.
Pier pilings rise from an emerald ocean.

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Shelter Island pier, photos and reflections.

Shelter Island pier seems to stand on watery reflections.
Shelter Island pier seems to stand on watery reflections.

The above photo of the Shelter Island pier is interesting to me.  I like how the angled concrete pilings, reflected on San Diego Bay, seem to project in three dimensions downward into the rippled water.

The light blue structure that you see is vacant.  In the past it has been the home of a small fishing store and cafe.  To its left you can see an aircraft hangar at Naval Air Station North Island.

Distant Coronado Islands seen beyond the Shelter Island pier.
Distant Coronado Islands seen beyond the Shelter Island pier.

When you stand on Shelter Island and gaze south beyond the pier, you can spy the distant Coronado Islands on a clear day.

The Coronado Islands (not to be confused with nearby Coronado) are four barren islets just west of Tijuana, Mexico.  The home of numerous sea birds, sea lions and sea elephants, they are mostly uninhabited.  A few Mexican caretakers live on the largest island and maintain a modest lighthouse.

Fisherman at one end of Shelter Island pier.
Fisherman at one end of Shelter Island pier.

Delightful heaps of junk on a working pier.

Solitary float on a pile of rusted rebar.
Solitary float on a pile of rusted rebar.

Tuna Harbor’s G Street Pier is one of my favorite places in San Diego.  The views of downtown and the bay are magnificent.  There are birds for company and swaying boats on all sides.  There are lobster traps stacked, nets in huge mounds, and heaps of amazing junk.

Take a look!

Ropes and chains in a delightful tangle.
Ropes and rusted chains in a delightful tangle.
Just a bunch of junk on Tuna Harbor Pier.
Just a bunch of junk on the Tuna Harbor pier.
Looking beyond colorful garbage at boats in the harbor.
Looking beyond colorful garbage at boats in the harbor.
Broken pallets lean against mound of nets covered in plastic.
Broken pallets lean against mound of nets covered in plastic.
Detached boat structure on pier frames San Diego skyscrapers.
Detached boat structure on pier frames San Diego skyscrapers.
Colorful floats scattered on Tuna Harbor Pier.
Colorful floats scattered on the public pier.
Adopt a Beach garbage can overflows on a pier.
Adopt a Beach garbage can overflows on the G Street Pier.
A working pier can resemble a chaotic junkyard.
A working pier can resemble a chaotic junkyard.
A leaf rake lies atop a ball of nets and ropes.
A leaf rake lies atop a ball of nets and ropes.
A large weed grows out of old nets on a working pier.
A large weed grows out of a small hill of old nets.
A beautiful image of sinuous yellow floats.
A beautiful image of sinuous yellow floats on a seine net.

Just another lazy day in sunny San Diego.

A tourist rental quadcycle heads down the park's pathway.
A tourist rental quadcycle heads past boats in the Marriott Marina.

A sunny Saturday afternoon in San Diego.  A perfect time to enjoy life!

Lots of people were out at Embarcadero Marina Park South making the most of the holiday weekend.  During my walk I noticed a number of Zonies (visitors from Arizona) wearing ASU gear–their team will play in the Holiday Bowl on Monday.

Here are a few more miscellaneous photos:

Basketball game at Embarcadero Marina Park South.
Basketball game at Embarcadero Marina Park South.
Boy fishes with dad on Embarcadero Marina Park South pier.
Boy fishes with dad on Embarcadero Marina Park South pier.
Heading to the pier with a bunch of fishing rods.
Heading to the pier with a bunch of fishing rods.

Watch commercial fishermen unload their catch.

People walk down San Diego's Embarcadero.
People walk down San Diego’s Embarcadero.

watch commercial fishermen unload their catch

A great place to watch small commercial fishermen unload their catch or load up with ice is the dock just north of Seaport Village, opposite the Chesapeake Fish Company. Folks walking past can also peer through a glass window nearby and see workers in a refrigerated room cleaning and processing the fresh fish that ends up at restaurants throughout the region. I once heard the Chesapeake Fish Company is the largest fish broker west of the Mississippi.

The sign in this photograph details the history of San Diego’s fishing industry–tuna fishing and canning in particular. At one time San Diego had the largest tuna fishing fleet in the world. Many of the fishermen were Italian migrants, which gave rise to the Little Italy neighborhood, about a mile to the north on downtown’s waterfront.

Tuna Harbor, adjacent to this dock, now is home to a ragtag group of local fishing boats. It’s also a great place to spot sea lions!

Working Waterfront sign shows photographs from San Diego's rich fishing history.
Working Waterfront sign shows photographs from San Diego’s rich fishing history.
1915 photo shows immigrants cleaning and canning locally caught fish.
1915 photo shows immigrants cleaning and canning locally caught fish.
Sign contrasts abundant catch of 1980 with the decline of tuna fishing in mid 80's.
Sign contrasts abundant catch of 1980 with the decline of tuna fishing in mid 80’s.
Fishing boat passes by the dock and crane.
Fishing boat passes by the dock and crane.

Sailboats, fishing boats and sparkling water!

Sailboats pass live bait fishing boat docked at Tuna Harbor Pier.
Sailboats pass live bait fishing boat docked at Tuna Harbor pier.

Venture anywhere along San Diego Bay and you’re in for a show!

Look at these pics of huge blue fishing boats, colorful sailboats, and the big gray Navy ships glimpsed in the distance!

Of course, sailboats are easily recognized, and everyone loves watching them dance on the big bay. On any given day you’ll see many white sails. Often you’ll see a group of sailboats racing together, tacking, tilting, running on the sea breeze.

The big blue fishing boats with the square wells that we seem to be standing beside are commercial live bait boats docked at Tuna Harbor’s G Street Pier. Seine nets are utilized to gather schools of small fish, which are then dumped into the deep wells. The live bait is then used by fishermen who depart from several sportfishing locations around San Diego. Pelicans, egrets, black-crowned night herons and gulls often perch on the sides of idle live bait boats. Perhaps they think something tasty will magically appear!

The distant Navy ships are an oiler and two active aircraft carriers docked at Naval Air Station North Island, situated on the northern half of Coronado Island. The two homeported carriers that you can glimpse are the USS Carl Vinson and the USS Ronald Reagan.

Sailboats pass a commercial live bait fishing boat.
Sailboats pass a commercial live bait fishing boat.
Fishing boat nets stretched on Tuna Harbor Pier.
Seine net with floats stretches along edge of Tuna Harbor pier.
Sailboats and a Navy oiler docked at North Island in the background.
Sailboats and a Navy oiler docked at North Island in the background.
Pelican and gulls on the edge of Tuna Harbor Pier.
Pelican and gulls on the edge of the Tuna Harbor pier.
Small sailboat passes live bait boat on San Diego Bay.
Small sailboat passes live bait boat on San Diego Bay.
The rusted bridge of a large live bait fishing boat.
The rusted bridge of a live bait catching fishing boat.
Dangling ropes and the fishing net coiled on a huge cylinder.
Dangling ropes and the seine net coiled on a huge cylinder-like winch drum.
Live bait boat docked at Tuna Harbor Pier on San Diego Bay.
Live bait boat Cougar docked at the picturesque Tuna Harbor pier on San Diego Bay.
White egret perched on square well perhaps hopes to find a fish.
Snowy egret perched on square well perhaps hopes to find a fish.
One live bait boat is named Rival.
One live bait boat is named Rival.
Cougar tied to pier between hunts for small fish.
Cougar tied to G Street Pier between watery hunts for small fish.
San Diego Bay and many colorful boats!
San Diego Bay and many colorful boats!

Cool fish wears red sunglasses!

cool fish wears red sunglasses

This is probably the coolest fish you’ll ever see. He’s so “ice” cool he’s gotta wear shades!

I glimpsed this funny image by the San Diego Marriott Marina, and thought everyone would enjoy it. Boaters going to and from the marina office are sure to take notice!